UCI looking to inspire all stakeholders with launch of inaugural sustainability awards

The awards, announced as part of the UCI’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy, seek to champion outstanding initiatives within the cycling community that contribute positively to both social and environmental causes. The awards will encompass four distinct categories, recognising impactful initiatives in diverse areas. These include the UCI Cycling for All award, which highlights initiatives with significant social impact; the UCI Climate Action award, celebrating environmentally driven projects; the UCI Bike City award, which is designed to recognise innovation in urban cycling infrastructure; and a discretionary UCI Rainbow award, chosen by the judges out of all applications for its outstanding overall contribution.

The winners will be crowned at this year’s UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum, which is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 18-19.

“We hope that professional riders, teams, event organisers and National Federations will see this as a unique opportunity to showcase – on a global level – the inspirational work that they are leading within their teams and organisations to enable positive social and environmental impact, promote active mobility and/or encourage more people to ride,” UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Manager Isabella Burczak told Global Sustainable Sport.

“And as a result, we also hope that by sharing these stories with the wider cycling community, even more organisations will be inspired to follow their lead and implement their own initiatives contributing to a sustainable future for all.

“Submitted applications – and not only award winners – will also be used to promote, via the UCI’s communications channels, actions taken within the sport to create positive social and environmental impact, thus establishing a worldwide database of best practices led by cycling’s stakeholders.”

The potential of these awards extends far beyond the individual awards themselves. The UCI aims to showcase the efforts of teams, event organisers, and national federations, enabling them to share their experiences and inspire others within the global cycling community. By creating a global hub of best practices, the UCI will amplify these stories, encouraging more stakeholders to embark on sustainable initiatives of their own. This vision aligns with the UCI’s broader sustainability goals, which were first articulated in their 2021 Sustainability Strategy, where cycling’s role in reducing transport emissions and promoting clean air was emphasized.

The awards are the latest chapter in UCI’s sustainability journey. From the outset of its 2021 strategy, UCI committed itself to climate leadership, recognising the unique responsibility that cycling holds in the global sustainability space. Cycling, unlike many other forms of transportation, is both environmentally friendly and highly accessible.

With millions of people around the world relying on bicycles for commuting, leisure, and sport, the UCI realised the power of its platform to drive climate action. This vision was reaffirmed in October 2023 with the updated 2030 Sustainability Strategy, which set the stage for the launch of the UCI Sustainability Awards. By inviting stakeholders from the broader cycling family to contribute, UCI is aiming for a collective effort that mirrors its global reach.

Bike City taking centre stage

Abu Dhabi, the host city for the UCI Mobility & Bike City Forum, embodies UCI’s vision. In 2021, the emirate became the first city in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded the UCI Bike City Label, a recognition of its efforts to promote cycling as a key mode of urban mobility. Abu Dhabi’s commitment to cycling is far-reaching, with long-term plans to extend its existing cycling network to 1,000 kilometres, including the landmark Abu Dhabi Loop, a 109-kilometer segregated cycleway that will link key areas of the city.

Those present at the Forum in December will be able to see first-hand what kind of impact it has had on Abu Dhabi. With such infrastructure developments, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable urban cycling, with plans to host a series of high-profile cycling events, including the 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships and the 2028 UCI Road World Championships.

“The city has worked hard to build and maintain infrastructure and communities that ensure cycling and sustainability mutually thrive,” Burczak said. “Such cycling infrastructure developments will actually be featured during both panel discussions and during bike infrastructure tours organised for all attendees of the UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum.”

Potential financial rewards for the future

While financial rewards are not part of the inaugural 2024 awards, the UCI is optimistic about introducing monetary incentives in future editions to further encourage and expand sustainable projects.

For now, the focus remains on showcasing and promoting the award-winning initiatives, which will serve as models for future sustainability efforts. The UCI’s hope is that these initiatives, particularly those recognised in the UCI Bike City award category, will inspire a ripple effect that extends far beyond the confines of the sport.

By working closely with policymakers and urban planners, the UCI is pushing for the adoption of more bike-friendly policies worldwide. The success of the UCI Bike City and Region Network, which now spans 26 cities across 14 countries, stands as testament to the growing momentum behind cycling as a sustainable mode of transport.

Leading experts on the jury

Another crucial element of the awards programme is the judging panel, which features seven individuals with expertise spanning cycling, sustainability, and active mobility.

Oceania Cycling Confederation President Tony Mitchell is joined on the reviewing board by European Cyclists’ Federation Chief Executive Jill Warren, UN Environment Programme team leader Carly Gilbert-Patrick, and Global Sustainable Sport CEO and Founder Mike Laflin.

Triple UCI road world champion Peter Sagan, co-Director of the Academic Observatory for Cycling and Active Mobilities at the University of Lausanne Patrick Rérat, and UCI Director General Amina Lanaya complete the panel.

“The UCI is proud to work with a distinguished panel of seven jury members, representing diverse areas of expertise, including active mobility, sustainability, academia, media, professional athletes and sport,” Burczak said. “We are convinced that both their longstanding experience and wealth of knowledge within their respective areas will allow for applications to be analysed – and ultimately rewarded – in an independent and comprehensive way.”

Looking to inspire others

Looking to the future, UCI is hoping to extend its influence by helping other international sporting federations introduce similar sustainability awards. The organisation itself benefited from the guidance of World Sailing when it first developed its sustainability strategy, and now seeks to inspire others. This collaborative spirit underscores the growing recognition that sport, with its far-reaching influence, has a central role to play in addressing the climate crisis.

“We would be delighted to provide guidance to other international federations looking to launch such awards, as the UCI benefited from such guidance from World Sailing a few years back, when we were developing our initial sustainability strategy in 2021,” Burczak said.

“There is so much to learn from other sporting organisations working to embed sustainability into their strategies and operations, and the learnings which World Sailing had shared with us at the time, including as part of the development of our UCI Sustainability Guidelines, was a wonderful asset which we can only thank them for.”

Cycling, by its very nature, is the perfect sustainable sport. Through the UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards, the sport is embracing its potential as a vehicle for lasting environmental and social change. By celebrating the people, cities, and organisations that are leading the way, the UCI is not only highlighting the importance of cycling in the fight against climate change but also inspiring others to follow suit. As the awards shine a spotlight on these achievements, they also set the stage for cycling to be a central player in the global sustainability movement for the future.

Images: Viktor Bystrov on Unsplash, micheile henderson on Unsplash